INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2019

Karen Hills 

Tell us about your role(s) in football

Spurs Ladies First Team Manager, and Women & Girls Development Manager at Tottenham Foundation. As well managing the first team I run the development programmes for W&G in addition to Premier Leagues programmes for girls and women aged 11-19, these include futsal and walking football I also recruit and develop female coaches to support the workforce. Our provision is open to females of all abilities and ages. Most recently we are really proud of our Women’s Walking Football - a group of 20 ladies entered the Peoples Cup which was fantastic.  

What does a typical week look like for you?

Games are on a Sunday for the Spurs Ladies 1st Team either away or home.  Monday starts with me looking at the week ahead whilst liaising with staff around players and schedules for the week. The head coach works on breaking down video analysis to present to players at our first meeting on the Tuesday before training. The rest of the week consists of Spurs Ladies 1st team training in the evening; during the day I am checking emails, holding staff team meetings, attending college sessions and games, usually with a 10.30pm finish. Towards the end of the week I am back in the office planning the week ahead and meeting with college staff. Saturday I have a day off I usually watch games, then it all starts again with the Spurs Ladies 1st team on Sunday travelling to games. 

Who are/were your most important female role models?

This is a tough question! For it would be my mum who was a fantastic role model and was a fantastic supporting mechanism which gave me confidence, there was never any pressure - she allowed me to create my own pathway and follow it.  I started playing football later on at 18 years old, so there weren’t many female players. However it was a great privilege to play against Marian Spacy, Mo Morley, some great players. I’ve met lots of inspirational women within and outside of the Foundation. Most recently I met some inspirational women at the Kick Out conference doing some fantastic work across football, there are lots of young women coming up and supporting the game. 

Tell us one thing still on your bucket list

Everything I want to do I achieve; I’m honoured & proud to have coached in many different countries. I don’t really have a bucket list but if money was no object I would go on a round the world trip as I love traveling. My aspirations have been achieved around me believing I can do whatever I set out to do. 

Where is your go to place to get away from it all?

Running in the morning for 30 minutes for my well-being is important for me. If I’m in a good place then that transfers into all aspects of my working life. You need that ‘me time’ whenever that is. 

What has been your proudest moment in the last 1-5 years?

I have two special moments: winning the league at White Hart Lane for the first time ever, and then playing at the valley against Blackburn and heading into the leagues - some amazing memories which I’m really proud of.